BBC3 has commissioned a supernatural drama to be co-produced by the makers of Being Human, the first since plans emerged to move the channel online.

The eight-part series, Tatau, is the first drama to be commissioned since the Bafta-winning zombie series In the Flesh.

The drama follows two friends from London who travel to the Cook Islands in the South Pacific. One of the friends, Kyle, who got a Maori-style tattoo before the trip, has a premonition of a killing and decides they must try to stop it.

The series is being co-produced by Touchpaper, makers of Being Human, and All3Media-owned South Pacific Pictures.

“Tatau is an ambitious new BBC3 Three drama series that will raise the bar for viewers of the channel who have a real appetite for distinctive stories from all different worlds,” said Ben Stephenson, controller of BBC drama.

The series is being made in association with BBC America and has been written by Strike Back and New Tricks writer Richard Zajdlic. Filming is due to start in September.

“BBC3 has rightfully made a name for itself producing multi-award-winning dramas like In the Flesh, The Fades and Being Human,” said Sam Bickley, channel editor for BBC3. “Tatau very much continues the channel’s tradition for commissioning original, innovative and exciting drama that you would not expect to see anywhere else.”

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